Buffer



` June 3, 1930. DE FOREST ROE 1,761,233

' BUFFER Filed Sept. ll, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l June 3, 1930. DE FORESTROE BUFFER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .(1 4 WM i rHlICl, .L 9/ 0 M D a ,l LH ,wsmi 129 MM5/M y Patented June 3, 1930 UNITED STA-'rss '1.761,2siil lPATENrr ori-ics nn ronns'r non, or siuxnnfnnienrs, onro, assieme 'ro rmiconsom comm, or

um, omo, .a coarom'rion or omo narran Application med september11,1vi926. serai no. 134,843.

My invention relates to an improved buier and more particularl itrelates `to that type of buiier employe on portable trucks, wheeledstretchers, articles of furniture, and the like. y l

One of the objects of my invention resides y in the revision of animproved buffer formed for the bui'er. l

Another object of`my invention resides in' of -rub er or rubbercomposition material, .or the like. y

Another object of'my invention resides in the provision'of an improvedreenforcement the manner by'which my improved buffer ma be secured to anarticle to be' protected.

nother object of myinvention is to rotect and thereby increase the lifeof articles equipped with my improved buffer, and ex-` traneous objectsagainst which such articles may collide.

Another object of my invention resides in.

its adaptability to projectin corners of'supporting articlesv as well ast e sides thereof. Another object of my invention'resides in theprovision of an improved buiier which is simple and durable inconstruction, economical to manufacture and readily attachable to asupport. v

Other objects of my invention and the in- 1 vention itself will becomeapparent from reference to the .accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis specification, wherein I have illustrated some of the embodimentsofmy invention.

Referring'to the drawings:

Fig 1 is a side elevational view of af" wheeled stretcher embodying myinvention; Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of a frag ment of4 anembodiment of my invention;

Sis a perspective view of a fragment of an article embodyin myinvention;

Fig. '4 is a side elevational view of an em line 7e? of Fi view of theem- Fig. 7 Y is a transverse sectional view on the c Fig. 8 is aragmentary side elevational view of another embodiment ofmy invention,showing a slightly modified reinforcement;

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view on line y9--9 of Fig. 8; 1.

- Fig. .9A is a transverse sectional view of the embodiment oi Fi 8illustrating the form assumed by the bu er when secured to a sup- Port;

Fig. 10 is aside elevational view of the buHer strip, an interlock jointfor the same being shown in dotted lines; v Fig. 11 is a sideelevational view of an embodiment similar to Fi 10 illustrating` indotted lines a modified interlocking for the reinforcement Fig. 12 isaside elevational view .of an embodiment of my invention adaptableforuse on edges of supporting articles; i

. Fig. 13 is a transverse sectional view on the line 13-130 Fig. 12;

Fig; 14 is a side elevational view of an embodiment of myinvention'adaptable for use on corners of supports;

Fig. 15 is 'a transverse sectional view taken on the line 15-15 of Fig.14, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fi 16 is a side elevational view of a modificati n of the embodiment ofmy invention of Fig. 14;

Fig. 17 is a transverse sectional view of .the same taken on the linev17--17 looking in the 'direction of the arrows;

Fig. 18 is a side elevational view of a modified corner piece of theforegoing embodiments; i

Fig. 19 i's a transverse` sectional view of the same, looking in thedirection of the arrows, a portion thereof being shown in elevation;

Fig. 20 is a side elevational view of the embodiment of my inventionillustratedin Figs. 10and 11; A

Fig. 21 -is atransverse sectional view taken on the line 21-21 of Fig.20;

Fig. 22 is a side elevational view of still another form of cornerpiece;

Fig. 23 is a side elevational view of a modified end which maybereinployed in the embodiment of my invention illustrated 1n 1Fig.24 isatransverse sectional view taken on the line 2.4-24 of Fig. 23, lookingin the direction of the arrows; g

Fig. is a fragmentar side elevational view of another form of e gepiece;

Fig. 26 is a transverse sectional view taken on the lines 26-26 of Fig.25; and

Fig. 27 is a side elevational view, broken 1 and 3 of the drawings.

Referring first to Fig. 1 of the drawings at 1, I show a wheeledstretcher of a typequite generally in use in hospitals, comprising a'pair of large supporting Wheels 2 and a pair of caster wheels 3 framesections 4 and a` top 6. vTo the peripheral edge of the to 6 is secured,preferably by screws`5, a bu er stri and a corner piecegenerallyindicated by he reference numerals 7 and 21 and refbeing of the formillustrated in igs. 4 an 14, respectively.

The buffer strip 7 preferablyicomprises a strip 8 of pliable andresilient material such as rubber, and a metallic reinforcing core 9embedded inthe material forming' the strip. The buffer is preferablyrounded on its outer surface at 10 and rovided with a base portion 11. Apluralit of spaced holes 1 2 are provided in the ru ber and extendpartly, through the same from the rounded surface to the base, .and inalignment with holes 13 provided in the metallic core 9; said 'holes 13vare of smaller diameterthan the holes 12 but of equal size to aplurality of corresponding and aligned holes 14 through the baseV of therubber strip. Each of the holes 12 are large v enough to permittheinsertion of a screw 5" as shown, so that itshead will yengage themetallic core 9, the shank portion 15 support 16 to secure the bufferstrip to the support.

metal contact, in such casesthere will be no` 31, and concave adjacentthe ends thereof. In this way a `space 33 is provided supportingarticle.

. truding through the holes 13 and 14 into the .f

rubber material between the offset core and the supporting surface. Thecomposite bufferris downwardly bowed between the screwreoe'ivingmholes12 for a purpose later to be explained.Av

, The corner'piece 21 illustrated in Figs. 14

and 15 employed in connection with the buffer strip described abovepreferabl comprises an angular strip of material 22 ormed .generallylike the strip 7 in transverse dimensions and comprising two armsdisposed at right angles to each other and united at 23. A metallic core24 is embedded in the rubbei material, being preferably molded therein,and extends to a point close to the ends of the rubber and likewise hastwo angularly disposed arms, the buffer arms havin abrupt ends 29 toconform to the abrupt ends of the strip 7. Preferably two holes 26 areprovided in. each arm, the holes of the rubber and ,core being alignedand adapted to receive securing screws to secure the cornerpiece to thesupport in such a way that the joint between the corner piece 21 andaligned side siliips such as 7, Fig. 10 is not readily noticea e. 1

lIn applying the strip 7 to the supporting article the initial positionassumed by the saine after the screws 5 have been artly screwed down isbest illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5. Fi s. 6 and 7 illustrate the ultimateposition. nrthe ultimate position the depressed portions of the corecome so close to the surface of the article to which the buffer yissecured that the tendency toward upward bowing of the intermediateportions of the buffer from contact with the surface of the article willnot be appreciable.

, In'Fig. 2 I have illustrated one form of buffer strip 30 like thestrip 7 in all respects except that in this embodiment of the inventionthestrip is dprovided with rounded ends base 32 extending topointsbetween the strip and the surface ofa supporting article whereby lanytendency of the buffer to bulge or assume an'uneven surface will 'beprevented. The spacel 33 will compensate for such bowing or bulgingofthe buffer when it is secured to a ably a fiat strip of metallicmaterial.

Referring to Fig. 3 I have illustrated a orm of my corner piece 50attached to a support such as a table corner 51 by virtue of screws 53,or the like, insertable into the holes 52 provided for that purpose.yThis form of corner without-buffer strips such as the strip 7,heretofore described, and is provided with rounded and tapered ends 54for the purposes of economy of n'aterial and appearance. F igs. 23 and24 more clearly illustrate the corner piecel 50 and the manner in whichthe metallic core 55v is carried embedded within The core 36 ispreferpiece is preferably employed the same, and disposed in close'yroximity to the base portion ofthe same. gometimes I may form the endsof the ieee with more abrupt ends, that is at suc Utimes when'it isdesired to employ the piece 50 in connection with strips suchas 57having complementary ends. y f Other embodiments comprisin .I pieces areillustrated in Figs. 16 an 22. The

former being indicated by the reference nu- Y meral 60, is likethecorner piece 50, except that the corner piece 60 is provided with moreabru t curved ends such as at 61 and the metallic core 63 is disposedmore to the center of the same. It will also be noted by reference toFig. 14 that the reduced bore 66 of the holes 64 is `of greater len hwith respect to theV portion than in t e screw t holes 26. I maysometimes provide a recess Referring to Figs. 8, 9 and 9A I haveillustrated one of the preferred embodiments of my invention which islike in many respects to the buffer strip 7, but in this formof the invention the strip is provided with a concaved base at 81 so that inapplying the buffer strip to a supporting surface the concaved portionwill compensaterfor the tendency of to app in which provision is madethe rubber material tobecome deformed or uneven after'screws have beenapplied to secure'the same permanently on the sup orting surface.lAsbest shown 1n Fig. 9A t e concave base 81 of thev buffer when appliedto a supporting surface .will be substantially flattened agamst thesupporting surface after the screws have been screwed Adown tightly. Thesides 83 of the buffer strip and the walls of the holes 84 will taperslightly inwardly towards each other.

Referring now to Figs. 18 and 20 wherein I have illustrated anotherembodiment of my invention in which is a strip of rubber material likethe buii'er stri 80, Fig. 8, but

ihr an interlocking joint 97 such as best shown in Fig. 10 between thebuffer strip and a corner piece 98, and ad'oining buffer strips when itis desired ly a buffer to an article ofav length greater'than the lengthof a corner piece and a single builer strip. 'A flared base 1s providedin this strippat 89 toy-afford a relatively large concave base portion88.. The bulfer strip and corner piece 98 in thls embodiment of myinvention are provided with a plurality of holes 92 for fastenin thesame t0. a sup rt and the buffer strip in provided with a fiat metalliccore 93 whic projects beyond one end thereof at 94 and the other end ofthe buffer strip 90 is provided `with a recess 95 for' the reception ofa projecting core 96 of the buffer strip 90 for insurin a betterinterlocking joint between the a joining buierstrips.`

To provide for an interlockin connection between acorner piece and bu erstrip the corner piece body 98 is rovided with a relativel short core91. ecesses 99 are provide in each end of the corner piece body for thereception of the projecting rtions 94 ofthe core 93 of an adjoining buer strip such as 90 to form an interlockn connection' between thecornerpiece and a ulerstrip. It will be noted that this form of corner pieceis provided witha flanged 'base 101, and also that the angle portion-100 thereof is of greater thickness than 'fits other portionsjntranseater protection verse dimensions to afford for the corners ofsupportmgartlcles.

The corner pieces 50, 60 and 17 0 are ada t ed to be employed withoutthe useof bu er.

strips, such application of these embodiments of my invention being bestshown in Fig. 3. The corner pieces 22 vand 98 as shown in Figs.

14 and 18 respectively may be employed in connectionwith buffer strips.such as the builer strip 7, or they may be employed singly When sodesired.

cent the bend in the core to providea forked end 104.` The fork isadapted to receive the projecting end 94 and provide a reinforcedinterlocking joint and also acts as a shield for decreasing thepossibility of the end of the core cutting the rubber material of thebuffer Reference is now directed to Fi s. 12 and 13 wherein I haveillustrated an'em odiment of my invention, adaptable for use 0nrelatively long edgesof a supporting article, comprising a-preferablyrubber buffer strip 4110 of right angle formation in transversecross-section having-tapered sides 111 towards its curved ex 112.- The.ends of the strip are prefera ably rounded at 113 towards the base 1194 each other for the reception of screws or other suitable fasteningmeans. These holes are arranged in staggered relation to eachother onthe side portions of the strip and core. `The sides of the core are alsoprovided with a series of a rtures 118 adapted decreased the weight olthe same andto permi the core iece'to be more freely bentl into t eform l illustrated. The rubber or other liable ma- I' trated in Figs. 25and 26 angle strip piece which is somewhat similar terial of which 'thebuffer strip is ormed may enter these apertures when in the plasticstate to rovide a more durablebuifer strip.

n the embodiment of m invention illushave shown an in form to Sandcapable of a like use as that of theembodiment of Figs. 12 and 13 andwhich comprises a strip of rubber material 120 forme Figs. 12 and 13,but in which the metallic v core 121 is formed of preferably twosepaprovided with offset portibns 126 for the purposeheretoforedescribed. `In'other respects the an le buffer strips V110 and12()l resemble each o er. v

The angle shjlown in Fig. 26'of the drawings,'-between t 1e innercontacting surfaces 128 and'129 ofthe strip 120 may be disposed at 90degrees to each other and slightly conl caved.` However, I sometimescontemplate make this'angle of less than 90 degreestoform a better claspfor the buffer on the supv Y gort. In employing the latter form I mayispense w'th the concaved surfaces. 4

I preferably form the buffer strips and corner'pieces above described byfirst placing the metallicl reinforcing bar in a mold of a configurationconforming to the size and shape of the buffer strip and corner piecewhich I contemplate making. Molten rubber is then poured into the moldthrough a suitable aperture provided in the wall there- Vof for thatpurpose 'and the mold is thenclosed and allowed to set the desiredperiod of time until-it becomes semi-solid, at whichtime it' isvulcanized to the desired degree of pliability. 1

A buierstrip and corner piece constructed inthe manner set forthis neatin appearance as well as being durable in construction and maybe readilyattached to a supporting arti# cle such as furniture, portable trucks,wheeled stretchers, door jambs and the like without .materiallymarring'the appearance of the article'to which it is applied, andpossesses the properties of La resilient soft armor therefor.

The buffer strip and corner piecemay be adapted for use either ointly orsingly. That is,V I may employ a single buffer strip or a single cornerpiece, or I may employ a plurality of each to properly protect thesupporting larticle depending ofcourse upon the s r into a substantialright' angle throughout its lenvth like the anglestrip 110,

'size ofthe article desired to. be protected or armored.4 v j Havingthus described my invention in certain .embodiments I amaware thatnumerous and extensive departures may be made from the yembodimentherein illustrated Aand dated rubber strip, a metallic strip extendingongitudinally interiorly thereof, said metallic strip comprising spacedoffsets having portions extending approximately in lon itudif nalalignment with the attaching sur ace of the rubber strip, securingmeans, said securing means supported by said aligned offset portlonsandprojecting therefrom into said article to tightly secure the buer tosaid article.`

2. A buffer adapted for attachment to a projecting edge of an article offurniture or the like to be guarded thereby from contact with extraneousobjects, comprising an elongated rubber strip, a metallicstrip'extending longitudinally interiorly thereof,'said meta-llic stripcomprlsing spaced'odsets having portions extendlng approximately inlongitudinal ali nment with the attaching surface of the rub er strip',securing means,said securing means supported by said aligned offsetportions and projecting therefrom into said article to tightly securethe buii'er to said article, the attaching surface of said bufferattachment'normally concave in form said metallic strip being sodisposed as to deform said attaching surface towards flattened form bythe pressure communicatedby the ro- 'jection of the securing means intothe article.

3. Aguard strip for a projecting edge of an article of furniture or thelike comprlsing a plurality of longitudinally aligned contiguous rubbersections, each of said sections comprising la longitudinally extendinginteriorly disposed metallic strip, one of said sections comprising asocket recess in its end disposed contiguous to an end of the othersection, the metallic strip of the other section projecting beyond itsend contiguous to the recessed end of the other section, the projectingportion disposed'in said recess and means 4. A uard strip, for aprojecting edge of an artic e of furniture or the like comprising aplurality of'longitudinall aligned contiguous rubber sections, each osaid sections comprising a longitudinally extending iuteriorly disposedmetallic strip, one of said sections comprising a socket recess in ltsend disposed contiguous-to an end ofthe other section, the metallicstrip of the other section projecting beyond its end contiguous to therecessed end of the other section, the projecting portion disposedimsaid recess and means projecting-from the metallic strips of bothsections into the edge. portion of the article to be guarded to securethe sections of guard to the article, one of said sections being bentangularly intermediate its ends and adapted to guard a corner portion ofthe edge of the article.

5. A guard strip for a projecting edge of an article of furniture or thelike comprising a plurality of longitudinally aligned con`tiguous'rubber sections, each of said sections comprising alongitudinally extending interiorly disposed metallic: strip, one ofsaid sections comprising a socket recess in its end disposed contiguousto an end of the other section, the metallic strip of the other sectionprojecting beyondits end contiguous to the recessed end of the othersection, the projecting portion disposed in said recess and meansprojecting from the metallic strips of both sections into the edgeportion of the article to be guarded to secure the sections of guard tothe article, one of sald sections being bent angularly intermediate itsends and adapted to guard a corner portion of the edge of the article,the attaching surface of each of said sections being transverselyconcave before attachment to the edge of thearticle.

6. A guard buffer for' a surface of an aricle of furniture or thelike,comprisin a plurality of longitudinally alignable rub er stripsections, each of said sections comprising a surface adapted to bepressed into inti-` mate engagement with the article, each of thesections adapted for attachment to the` article, said sections having alongitudinally extending bore and. a smooth transversely roundedexterior surface, av reenforcing core disposed'within said bore, saidcore being apertured at intervals to admit screws, nails, and the like,adapted thereby to be projected therethrough into the article to beguarded.

7.v A guard buffer for a surface of an -article of furniture or thelike, comprising a plurality of longitudinally alignable rubber stripsections, each of said sections comprising a surface adaptedto bepressed into intimate engagement with the article, each of the sectionsadapted for attachment to thel article, said sections having alongitudinally extending bore and a smooth transversely rounded exteriorsurface, a reenforcing relatively incompressible (core disposed witlnsaid bore, said core being apertured at in-` tervals to admit screws,nails, and the like,

. adapted thereby to be projected therethrough into the article' to beguarded, at least one of said sections comprising two integrally joined`angularly disposed portions, each portion adapted to be disposed on adifferent side ofthe corner edge of the article to be guarded.

8. A guard bulfer for a surface of an arti-` cle of furniture or thelike, comprising a plurality of longitudinally alignable rubber stripsections, each of said-sections comprising a surface adapted to bepressed into intimate engagement With the article, each of the sectionsadapted for attachment' to the article, said sections having alongitudinally extending bore and a smooth transversely rounded exteriorsurface, a steel reenforcing 9. A guard bui'erfor a surface of an aryticle o f furniture or the like comprising a rubber strip section,comprising a surface adapted to be compressed into intimate engagementW'th the article, said section adapted for attac ment to the article andhaving a longitudinally extending bore and a substantially roundedexterior surface, a reenforcing core disposed withm said bore, said corebeing apertured at intervals to admit screws, nails and the likeadaptedl thereby to be projected therethrough into the article to beguarded.

10. A guard buffer for a' surface of an articlek of furniture or thelike comprising a-rubber strip section, 'comprising a surface adapted to,be compressed into intimate engagement with the article, said sectionadapted for attachment to the article and having a longitudinallyextending bore and a smooth transversely rounded exterior surface, areenforcing core disposed within said bore, said core being' aperturedat intervals to admitl screws, nails and the like adapted thereby to beprojected therethrough into the articleto be guarded, said rubber stripcomprising two integrally joined angularly disposed portions, eachportion adapted for attachment to adiiierent side of the corner edge ofthe article to .be guarded.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aix my signature this 28th day ofJuly,1926.

'DE FOREST ROE.

